Aaron Edgell

Blog Author

We all live in a digital era where videos rule the marketing spectrum. People today prefer watching videos or engaging infographics rather than reading through long blogs. Hence, businesses need to deliver content according to these prevailing trends and generate content that their customers will view and love.  In this write-up, we will see and learn how to start researching keywords, creating videos, optimizing the videos, the importance of adding transcriptions and captions. Also, we’ll focus on the why and hows of embedding videos on websites and share some tips on promoting your videos for better outreach. STEP ONE: Research Keywords  Keywords researched for website text are different from keywords researched for YouTube. This is because the way people browse on google is entirely different from the searching pattern on YouTube. So, keywords research for Google wouldn’t fetch the same results on YouTube, and the same goes around the other way. Thus, you won’t use Google’s Keyword Planning tool to understand the number of searches the keywords generate on YouTube.  So, how to find the best possible keywords for video optimization? 1. YouTube Keywords Suggest tool By typing a keyword on the YouTube search bar, one can see a rundown of all the autocomplete suggestions. From here, one can take down all the relevant keywords used.  2. VidiQ Keywords Searching tool You can also use the VidiQ keyword tool to search all the relevant and accurate keywords for your video content.  3. YouTube’s Studio keyword Stats  In this tool, you can find a wide range of keywords that can come in handy as per rankings. Here, the keywords are displayed as per search rankings on YouTube and are valuable for video optimization. These keywords can be instrumental in describing the video’s intent in the title. STEP TWO: Create Meaningful Videos Having the right tools is the best way to make good quality videos. Therefore it’s pivotal that you invest in a perfect camera, mic, and other recording gear.  Another thing to keep in mind is to avoid all unnecessary distractions in your videos. While speaking the script, you must get to the point directly without creating unnecessary chatter. It’s the era of reels, so short videos that capture the essence of the topic at hand sit well with your audience. The ultimate goal is to create impactful videos that educate and entertain the viewers.   The catch is to make an impact in the initial 30 seconds to get the audience hooked to the rest of your video. Thus, setting the right tone, creating attractive audiovisuals and quirky graphics can be the key to user retention.   One crucial step is to incorporate user engagement in the video. Do so by asking the viewer to like, subscribe and share your content. The more your viewers engage with your videos, the better they rank on YouTube.   STEP THREE: Optimize your videos Now comes the quintessential step – optimizing the video. You need to incorporate a few elements to maximize the outreach of your video. Video optimization requires the following steps: 1. Adding a title to the video:  The video should have a very catchy title to attract the viewers in one go. The title should give the video a better click-through rate, giving it a better reach. 2. Addition of a video description:  Give a catchy description of your video. Add relevant keywords, catchy one-liners, etc., to your video description. Here is where your advertising skills can come in handy. A description that captures the video’s intent will be a hit with your audience.  3. Using relevant tags: Tagging or hashtagging is the key to making your video seen. Relevant tags lead the accurate audience to your content and then redirect them to your landing page. Putting the correct and relevant tags is a task that requires research and understanding of demand trends. 4. Creating thumbnails: Thumbnail is like a logo. The more attractive it is, the more it would appeal to your audience. You can make an impactful thumbnail for your channel separately and individual thumbnails for each of your videos. The thumbnail creates the brand image and also speaks out the first impression of the brand’s message. Thus, take time to design the thumbnail for your videos.  STEP FOUR: Include captions and transcripts in the video   Adding captions and video transcripts helps the search engines understand more about the contents of the concerned video. Moreover, when embedded in the website, it boosts the rankings for specifically relevant keywords.  Experts suggest that captions prove to be highly beneficial for the video. This is so because it generates the focused attention of viewers and opens up the video for a wider audience without having a language bar. In the case of tutorial videos, captions work wonders as it gives better instructions to users. Adding transcripts and captions to your videos ensures that language doesn’t become a viewer barrier. STEP FIVE: Embed the video Don’t simply upload the video on your YouTube channel and offer it through social media. Instead, upload and embed that video on the official or main website. Select the correct website page and blog entry to get increased exposure. Typically, Google lists just a single video for each site page, so on the off chance that you want to incorporate multiple videos, ensure that your relevant videos pop up at the top of the search results list.  STEP SIX: Promote the video Did you know that around 400 hrs of videos are constantly uploaded on YouTube in less than one minute?   Hence, you need to shout out to your videos loudly across platforms to attract the attention of a suitable viewer base. You can promote videos by doing the following: Embed the tape over your best-performing website that is also relevant to the video’s content. Share the video on various social media pages linked to your business.  Create an Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat story to stir your audience’s interest.  Add your video in the business’s email newsletters. Make sure to promote the other videos related to your campaign at the end of the display screen. Upskill with upGrad If you’re searching for academic guidance during your professional journey as a digital marketer– upGrad is the right place for you. upGrad’s MBA (Global), sponsored by Deakin Business School, helps you start from scratch and master the nitty-gritty of digital marketing. This course incorporates all the fundamentals within its well-curated curriculum when it comes to the best video optimisation techniques. With a learner base spread across 85 countries and a network of 40,000 learners globally, this course can be your key to becoming a successful digital marketing manager! Conclusion Digital marketing is in vogue a present. It is a top career choice for marketing aspirants. What’s more, digital marketing candidates can command high salary packages, provided they have the right skills and qualifications. There’s plenty to explore and learn in this arena.  We hope that this article has given you a good insight into video optimization through the right SEO techniques. Your effort as a successful digital marketer should be to create a video and publish it on the right platform, which outshines the other videos of similar categories uploaded by competitors. 

The road to becoming a digital marketer is quite smooth once you have acquired all the necessary skills. This job profile is more about implementing your creativity and tact in selling out a brand digitally in the best possible way.  Recently, there’s been an upsurge in the number of aspirants who want to take up digital marketing as their career. This is mainly because digital marketing offers numerous specialization choices to professionals, including SEO/SEM, content marketing, PPC advertising, email marketing, social media marketing, brand development, etc. The best part is that candidates earn hefty annual compensation in each of these digital domains. All you need to do is stay updated with all the latest strategies and trends about digital marketing.  Currently, the digital marketing sector provides many opportunities for aspirants from many different domains of academics. Moreover, the growth trajectory of digital marketing roles is much higher than in many other sectors. This article will provide you with the different salaries that exist under the digital marketing spectrum.  Before that, let us first understand some aspects that influence the ultimate salary of any digital marketing professional.  Factors affecting the salary of digital marketing professionals Like any other field, various factors impact the ultimate salary structure of digital marketing candidates. The following are a few essential aspects for everyone to consider while negotiating a salary for the post of a digital marketing manager:  1. Duration of work experience Your work experience is directly proportional to your market value that directly impacts your salary. The area of digital marketing is a little different from traditional marketing and requires professionals to work around various social media tools and platforms. If you have enough experience backing your expertise in the field, you can easily fetch high-end salary packages.  2. Digital or online reputation This factor is often under-rated when it comes to understanding its impact on salary. Many designers, artists, writers, and even digital marketers often fail to understand that an excellent digital reputation widens their earning prospects. Online or digital reputation means how the existing industry perceives aspirants and their expertise, directly affecting their salary, whether freelancers or full-time professionals. The more well-known you are in the online circle, the higher will be your commanding salary. Thus, you must create an excellent online network. 3. Skills of the contender As mentioned above, if you have a refined skill set, you can earn more salary. Digital Marketing is a dynamic field, and it includes all kinds of skills – from marketing to content creation and running ads to designing. Your ability to prove your previous work experience should be proportional to your skills. This will make you a valuable asset to any employer.  4. Job role and position The ladder of your career as a digital marketing expert highly impacts the salary you draw. The more senior your position is, the more money you can earn. Apart from this, the roles and responsibilities also affect the salary earned. If you’re responsible for effective brand campaigns and can carry out particular tasks benefiting the company, you have more chances to get higher pay than your counterparts. 5. Professional efficiency  In digital marketing, every initiative that one takes is measurable. Unlike traditional marketing, digital marketing requires remarkable efficiency to ensure that a campaign runs well and generates a good investment return.  With the above points settled, we shall now dive even deeper to look into the prevailing salary structures of different types of Digital Marketers concerning different stages and seniority of this career.  Salaries of different digital marketing roles in the US  Now, let’s look at various levels of a digital marketing job and the prevailing wage that one can expect at different levels. Ultimately, it’s one’s skills alone that will help you reach the zenith! 1. Junior Digital Marketer This is an entry-level position, and freshers earn about $84,989 per annum. As one goes up the ladder, their pay scale shoots higher. One isn’t required to hold a specific degree for this job level. However, if you have additional qualifications or certifications in digital marketing, you can be a better candidate for consideration than other contenders for the same post.  As a junior digital marketing manager, the following shall be your primary responsibilities: SEO Content optimization PPC campaigns Keyword research  Creating content bucket  Email marketing  Blog writing Copywriting Web content writing Social media management and marketing  Preparing ad copies Creating ad campaigns Working along with external resources 2. Specialist Digital Marketing Manager: People acquire this post with 5-15 years of work experience. These digital marketing professionals have multidimensional exposure to different fields and projects. Hence, their level of expertise is high, owing to which they are assigned specific tasks and departments. The average pay drawn by a well-experienced digital marketing specialist is around $61,196 per year. Here is an experience wise list of how much salary can a digital marketing specialist can draw:  1-4 years of experience: $45,000 per annum 5 – 9 years of experience: $54,000 per annum 10-15 years of experience: $65,000 per annum 3. Digital Marketing Managers This is a level higher than specialist digital marketers and attracts a salary of approximately $94,246 and up. Digital marketing managers oversee every digital marketing initiative of the company. They ensure that everything goes on properly and help their colleagues when they face any difficulty. The payout of regular digital marketing managers is much higher than most other digital marketing roles in the industry. Some companies even pay as much as $129,966 per annum if the candidate’s expertise justifies the job expectations.  4. Chief Marketing Officer or CMO The average salary drawn by a CMO is $176,216 per annum. If they are the Vice president (VP) of Marketing, the average wage would be about $149,772 per annum. To reach this high in the digital marketing ladder, one must have an advanced marketing degree and substantial work experience, over 15 years. Apart from this, they should also have the soft skills required for leadership roles, such as leadership abilities and excellent negotiation skills.  5. Freelance Digital Marketer Usually, people who want to be their boss prefer freelancing opportunities. While working as a freelance digital marketer pays well, you won’t enjoy the job security that accompanies a full-time position. However, if you have the requisite digital marketing skills, you can find plenty of freelancing opportunities that compensate handsomely. That said, the money earned by freelance digital marketers dramatically depends on the hourly rate they charge and the number of hours they put in for their work. Usually, the hourly rate charged by most freelance digital marketers ranges between $55 to $100.  6. Other Digital Marketing Roles  The three payout layers of junior, specialist and manager levels that we spoke of earlier are only broad divisions of the digital marketing spectrum. It would be unfair to leave out the different special categories under this umbrella.  So, here there’s a run-down of various other digital marketing roles and their. respective salary range:  SEO Experts– $54,175 per annum Social Media Specialists – $45,908 per annum Content Marketing Managers – $82,465 per annum Advertisement Specialists – $53,047 per annum Affiliate Marketing Manager – $66,346 per annum If you’re searching for academic guidance during your professional journey – upGrad is the right place for you. upGrad’s MBA (Global), sponsored by Deakin Business School, helps you start right from scratch and pushes you to reach heights. With a learner base spread across 85 countries and more than 40,000 paid students globally, this course by upGrad is your key to becoming a successful digital marketing manager. This course gives industry-level exposure and 360-degree support while learning! Conclusion Digital marketing is a fascinating field filled with lucrative opportunities. From design to writing, keyword research to social media management, or developing Ad Campaigns – the field of digital marketing is challenging, dynamic, and helps you grow professionally!  So, don’t wait – enrol in the MBA program today to become a valued digital marketing candidate!

If you are well acquainted with Google, you must have seen the tiny “Ad” tag next to your search results when you look up a product or service. Well, that’s a Google Ad, and there are qualified professionals called Google Ads Specialists who curate them. But ever wondered what could be a Google Ads Specialist pay? Advertising is an essential aspect of any business. Regardless of the company’s size, it needs to reach its potential customers to sell any product or service. Advertising tools and techniques such as newspapers, television, radio, billboards, and magazines are traditional and time-tested media for promoting products and services. However, the digital revolution introduced the world to Digital Advertising techniques that have successfully changed the way businesses are endorsed. Like traditional advertising, digital media generates brand awareness, increases reach, and helps in boosting sales. But instead of using conventional advertising channels such as newspapers or television, it displays the Ads on Google, YouTube, Facebook, and similar platforms.  This article will focus on search advertising and talk about the biggest provider of Search Advertising in the market – Google. Subsequently, the article will guide you through the Google AdWords Specialist salary and what the job entails. What are Google Ads? If you want to reach out to new customers online, advertising through Google Ads is your best call. Google Ads is the search engine giant’s online advertising program. It lets you create online advertisements and reach out to people who could be potentially interested in the products and services you offer. What can you do with Google Ads? You can use Google Ads to promote your business, raise awareness, help sell products and services, and increase traffic to your website. Moreover, since Google Ads accounts are entirely managed online, you have the complete freedom to create or change your ad campaign according to your time and convenience, including the budget, settings, and even the ad text. Furthermore, Google Ads are way more flexible than traditional advertising methods because you can set and control your budget, easily measure your Ads’ impact, and choose where your ad appears, all of it without any predefined spending commitment. Why Google Ads? Digital advertising has different types – search, display, social, and influencer. Out of all, Search Advertising has the biggest market within Digital Advertising, with the global revenue predicted to reach the US$ 252.3 billion mark by 2025. Search Engine Advertising (SEA), also known as paid-for-search advertising, is a digital advertising method whereby Ads are displayed on search result pages alongside organic search results. While they are usually text-based, search advertisements can also be shown in the form of images, if needed.  Google is among the leading search engine providers in the U.S. But it doesn’t end here. Google Sites (including YouTube) generated advertising revenue of a whopping US$ 123.83 billion in 2020, and the total Google’s 2020 segment revenue amounted to more than US$ 181.69. Source: Statista Job profiles in Google Ads Google Ads have become a go-to option for businesses for generating instant leads and conversions. Most reports suggest that businesses and marketers today resort to Google Ads to target potential customers and increase ROI. Consequently, this increased demand for Google advertisements has created potential career options in the field of Digital Marketing.  However, Google Ads is not limited to a single job profile. Instead, it is an extensive field with several job titles, including Google Ads Specialist, Google Ads Consultant, Google Ads Strategist, PPC Expert, Google Ads Expert, and Adwords Campaign Analyst. Job roles and responsibilities in Google Ads As we said, Google Ads has a wide scope for different job titles. Hence, the list of different roles and responsibilities is also quite extensive. Following are some of the most essential roles and responsibilities of a professional with Google Ads skills: Creation, launch, and management of different PPC (pay per click) ad campaigns. Forming efficient and effective strategies for Google Ads. Conducting keyword research. KPI tracking for monitoring performance. Managing budget and making strategies for effective bidding and ROI maximization. Making reports on ad management and insights. Preparation of detailed analysis reports of ad campaigns. Monitoring existing ad campaigns giving suggestions on improving and optimizing them. Analyzing the most up-to-date market trends and optimizing ad campaigns accordingly. Google AdWords Specialist salary in the U.S. The average annual salary of a Digital Marketing Specialist with Google Ads skills is US$ 49,253. Here’s a further breakdown of the various salary components and their respective pay range: Salary Distribution Pay Range Base salary US$ 36,000 – US$ 66,000 Bonus US$ 488 – US$ 5,000 Profit-sharing US$ 102 – US$ 2,000 Commissions US$ 0 – US$ 10,000 Total pay US$ 35,000 – US$ 66,000 Source: Payscale Like most other job profiles, the Google Ads specialist pay in the U.S. will primarily depend on three factors: Location Experience Skill So, let’s look at how the Google AdWords Specialist salary will vary with the above determinants. Google AdWords Specialist salary by location The salary of a Google Ads specialist will vary according to the location of the job. Given below is a list of U.S. cities and the average yearly salary a Google Ads Specialist can expect to draw in each: City Average Salary (per year) City Average salary (per year) Orlando, FL  US$ 48,454 Portland, OR  US$ 45,009 Seattle, WA US$ 50,565 Austin, TX US$ 54,045 Minneapolis, MN US$ 51,163 St. Louis, MO US$ 48,980 New York, NY US$ 58,958 Chicago, IL US$ 50,000 Source: Payscale Google AdWords Specialist salary by experience The salary of a Digital Marketing Specialist with Google Ads skills will vary according to the years of experience in the field. Accordingly, a professional will be paid depending on whether they are an entry-level, early-career, mid-career, or late-career candidate. Experience Level Years of Experience Average Salary (per year) Entry-level  Less than one year US$ 41,026 Early-career 1-4 years US$ 47,696 Mid-career 5-9 years US$ 55,218 Late-career 10-19 years and more US$ 63,800 Source: Payscale Google AdWords Specialist salary by skill While there are several skill sets that affect the salary of a Google Ads Specialist, we have listed below some of the popular skills that have a significant impact on the salary. Skill Average Salary (per year) Digital Marketing  US$ 50,817 Social Media Marketing US$ 49,293 Email Marketing US$ 51,584 Google Analytics US$ 50,191 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) US$ 49,269 Source: Payscale Learn Digital Marketing and Communication with upGrad If you are looking for a course that can help you become a Google Ads Specialist, sign up for upGrad’s Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication today! The premier online higher education platform combines state-of-the-art technology and educational practices to deliver an immersive learning experience. Not just that, each course is designed in alignment with industry standards to help learners meet the challenges of the ever-competitive job market. In addition, students get 360-degree career assistance, peer-learning, and global networking opportunities that further enrich the learning journey. With 40,000+ learners spread across 85+ countries, this course will help you learn skills like SEO, SEM, Branding, Social Media and Content marketing, and Branding. Key highlights of the program Advanced certificate and alumni status from MICA Certificate of completion from Facebook and upGrad in business growth using Facebook Comprehensive coverage of 70+ Digital Marketing tools and platforms  Four specializations to choose from – Branding and Communications, Marketing Analytics, Social Media and Content Marketing, Marketing Communications – PR. Executive and Management Tracks for customized and better learning outcomes 180 hours of content, 15 case studies and projects, and 15 live sessions Final Thoughts We are a modern tech-savvy society that thrives on the internet. Today, it is more practical for brands to advertise their products and services through channels on the Web than traditional means such as newspapers. Thanks to Google’s unrivaled reach and ever-evolving algorithms, companies are quick to adopt Google Ads services to reach their target audience. And what better than a qualified Google Ads Specialist who has the expertise to help companies reach their goals of generating leads and conversions? Add to that the promising career prospects and the lucrative Google Ads Specialist pay package, a Digital Marketeer with Google Ads skills is a much sought-after profession now. So, what are you waiting for? Join upGrad and upskill yourself with the know-how of Digital Marketing and Communication today!

Businesses come in all shapes and sizes. From entrepreneurial startups and major corporations to government establishments and non-profits, there is an evident and unavoidable need for professionals with a business degree. Having a business degree is a significant boost to one’s career prospects for the very reason that it is relevant in almost every sector of commerce and industry. So naturally, it becomes pertinent to talk about the financial benefits that accompany a job based on a business degree. But before we talk about Business Administration and Management salary in the U.S., let’s take a look at what Business Administration is and the degrees and programs in the field of Business Administration. Then, finally, we will shed light on the Business Administration jobs salary. What is Business Administration? In the simplest terms, Business Administration means managing an organization’s time, resources, and people. Business Administration professionals’ job is to ensure that businesses run efficiently, effectively, and productively. Hence, working in Business Administration requires knowledge of the concerned discipline and soft skills such as good communication and interpersonal skills. Apart from the soft skills, business administrators must have a fundamental understanding of finance, accounting, human resources, marketing, and IT. However, business administrators usually specialize in a specific area. Business Administration Degrees and Programs  A degree in Business Administration is one of the most sought-after credentials among undergraduates and postgraduates alike. With a degree in Business Administration, individuals can launch their careers in almost any industry and take home an attractive salary package.  So, let’s take a quick look at the different Business Administration degrees and programs you can pursue: 1. Associate’s Degree in Business Administration An Associate’s degree in Business Administration is ideal for those who want to begin their career in the business world and professionals who wish to advance their careers. The Associate’s degree can also be a great option before pursuing a Bachelor’s. Mostly career-oriented, it mainly focuses on management, accounting, and software applications. It equips students with the skills and industry knowledge required to land an entry-level job in a specialized field. 2. Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration A Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration qualifies individuals for critical job roles across industries, such as business analyst, operations manager, human resources generalist, marketing specialist, etc. The Bachelor’s degree courses mainly focus on interpersonal skills, critical-thinking capabilities, business management principles, and core business subjects such as finance, accounting, marketing, and information technology. 3. Master’s Degree in Business Administration A Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) opens up a treasure trove of management roles for graduates. MBA degree programs qualify individuals for various professional opportunities, from executive directors and corporate controllers to business owners and independent consultants. Typically, an MBA program has a course duration of two years. 4. Doctor of Business Administration A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is the ultimate higher education degree in business. A DBA qualifies individuals for leadership, consulting, and teaching positions in the corporate and academic sectors. It focuses on research and analytical methods and core management subjects, building on the knowledge and expertise acquired through Master’s level studies. Consequently, Doctor of Business Administration salary will inevitably be higher. Factors Affecting Business Administration Jobs Salary A degree in Business Administration is a versatile credential. It covers a wide range of disciplines from general Business Administration, finance, and accounting to marketing, human resources, and international business. The curriculum aligns with real-world business scenarios and enables students to plan strategically master financial principles, and create value for the organization. Business Administration jobs salary mainly depends on the following factors: Location Experience Skill Employer Scope of the job Business Administration Jobs Salary The average salary for a business administrator in the U.S. is US$ 55,943 per year.  Salary Distribution Pay Base Salary US$ 36,000 – US$ 96,000 Bonus US$ 202 – US$ 10,000 Profit-sharing US$ 256 – US$ 20,000 Commission US$ 2,000 – US$ 38,000 Total Pay US$ 33,000 – 88,000 Source: Payscale Business Administration Jobs Salary By Location Business Administration job salaries in the United States will differ with cities. Here is a list of the top five cities and the salary a business administrator can expect: City Average Salary (per year) Houston, TX US$ 58,234 New Yor, NY US$ 53,106 Seattle, WA US$ 75,000 Chicago, IL US$ 61,281 Los Angeles, CA US$ 70,638 Source: Payscale Business Administration Jobs Salary By Experience Based on work experience, the salary of a business administrator will differ as follows: Experience Level Years of Experience Average Salary (per year) Entry-level Less than one year US$ 49,991 Early-career 1-4 years US$ 51,347 Mid-career 5-9 years US$ 58,504 Experienced 10-19 years US$ 61,636 Late-career Over 20 years US$ 64,076 Source: Payscale Business Administration Jobs Salary By Skill While several skills are popular among business administrators, we have listed below the most relevant and in-demand skills and their impact on the salary of a business administrator: Skill Average Salary (per year) SQL US$ 97,000 Operations Management  US$ 60,989 Office Management US$ 58,158 Accounting US$ 57,152 Microsoft Excel US$ 52,946 Source: Payscale Business Administration Jobs Salary By Scope of Job Like we said previously, a degree in Business Administration qualifies an individual for several job titles. Check out these popular ones and the salaries they fetch in the United States: Job Title Average Salary (per year) Financial Controller US$ 85,582 Project Manager (General/Unspecified Type) US$ 75,062 Operations Manager US$ 66,848 Executive Assistant US$ 57,259 Accountant US$ 51,927 Source: Payscale Doctor of Business Administration Salary A Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Business Administration is the highest academic credential in the field. It not only prepares an individual for efficient leadership and management but also increases the scope of landing a secure job with hefty pay.  On average, a professional with a Doctorate in Business Administration can expect to draw an annual salary of US$ 102,000 in the U.S. The following table categorizes some of the job titles that a Ph.D. holder is qualified for and the corresponding average annual salary they can expect: Job Title Average Salary (per year) Job Title Average Salary (per year) Executive Director US$ 80,523 IT Specialist US$ 58,190 Finance Director US$ 113,905 Institutional Research Specialist US$ 53,690 HR Manager US$ 68,766 President US$ 150,860 Admissions Director (University/College) US$ 69,860 Procurement Agent US$ 60,149 Project Manager (IT) US$ 88,883 Professor (Higher Education) US$ 88,484 Project Manager (General/Unspecified) US$ 75,062 Chief Financial Officer (CFO) US$ 137,123 Senior Project Manager (General/Unspecified) US$ 93,518 Training and Development Manager US$ 77,615 HR Director US$ 89,624 Business Development Manager US$ 74,494 IT Director US$ 121,987 Financial Analyst US$ 61,988   Further Your Learning Journey With upGrad If you’re looking for an online course on MBA or DBA, upGrad’s Master of Business Administration from Liverpool Business School and Doctor of Business Administration from Swiss School of Business Management is your best call. upGrad is a leading name in the online higher education industry. With an effective combination of the latest technology, services, and educational practices, every course and program offered at upGrad is tailor-made to meet the professional requirements of learners. The much sought-after learning platform has a global paid learner base of over 40,000 spread across more than 85 countries. Its immersive learning experience has impacted more than 500,000 working professionals worldwide and continues to deliver education par excellence. Course Highlights of the Master of Business Administration from Liverpool Business School (18 months): MBA degree from the prestigious Liverpool Business School Associate alumni status from IMT Ghaziabad Industry-relevant curriculum with six specializations One week immersion program at the university campus One-on-one mentorship from industry leaders Peer learning and networking with managers and business leaders 360-degree career assistance Course Highlights of the Global Doctor of Business Administration from Swiss School of Business Management (36 months): Global Doctor of Business Administration from SSBM Geneva Limitless avenues for research Dissertation in the chosen specialization International networking opportunities International academic support One-on-one thesis supervision Designed for working professionals Final Thoughts Getting a business degree is worthwhile for all the good reasons. The market demand is high, there is a competitive earning potential, business-related jobs are sufficiently flexible, the degree is versatile and opens up many career avenues, and finally, the networking opportunities are transformative for the individual’s professional growth. Of course, there are limitations, but the high points simply outweigh the minor cons. If you have to differentiate yourself from the crowd and prove your credibility, a business degree is a must. So, if you are all set to take the next step towards earning a Business Administration degree, why not choose upGrad? Then, go ahead and explore all the exciting career opportunities upGrad has to offer!

Becoming a Digital Marketer is not really a challenging task. It is pretty non-technical in nature, and once you have mastered the basics, it’s all about your creative implementations. Naturally, there has been a surge in the number of digital marketing aspirants over the last few years. The best part about this field is that you don’t need a specific degree to pursue a career in digital marketing. All you need to do is stay constantly updated with the latest trends and strategies in digital marketing.  Presently, the digital marketing industry offers numerous opportunities for people from all domains of education. The pace of growth provided in this industry is also superior to many other domains. Through this article, we’ll help you understand the different salaries that are offered under the digital marketing umbrella.  But first, let’s begin by understanding some factors that influence the final salary of digital marketing professionals.  Factors affecting Digital Marketing Salaries  Since this field doesn’t have a specific prerequisite degree, the factors that go into determining your final salary structure are varied in nature. Here are some essential factors for you to consider before negotiating a salary for yourself:  Years of Work Experience Without any surprise, your industry experience plays a pivotal role in determining your salary figures. Unlike traditional marketing, digital marketing requires you to work on different tools and social media platforms. If your experience backs your expertise, you can expect a higher salary.  For instance, if you started as a keyword analyst, moved on to become an SEO expert, and over the years you’ve gained a lot more expertise in this field by keeping yourself up-to-date, you will get a higher salary as compared to if you didn’t have such a rich experience in the SEO world. If your experience so far has been trans-functional – as in, you know SEO, advertisements, content marketing, and web designing, and have sufficient enough experience of working in these fields, you can draw a much higher salary than your peers possessing theoretical knowledge of SEO.  Digital Reputation  This is one factor that most artists, designers, writers, and digital marketers often ignore. However, if done correctly, this factor can make a huge difference in how the industry perceives you and your expertise – which will directly impact the salary you can draw either as a freelancer or while working for an agency. You should look to develop and strengthen your personal brand as an expert professional. Digital marketers working in any specialized DM field are likely to draw more salary for their services if they are well known in professional circles.  Here are some steps you can consider for promoting and solidifying your online brand:  Regularly maintain and update your website or blog. Connect to industry experts and influencers on LinkedIn and try to initiate conversations with them.  Reach out to third-party magazines and reputed platforms to get your content published.  Publish blogs related to your industry knowledge, how-tos, and other informational content to reflect your expertise and experience.  Skills Acquired As we mentioned earlier, the more refined your skillset is, the higher your salary will be. Digital Marketing is a broad field and includes all sorts of skills – from content creation to marketing, designing to running ads, and so much more. If you can prove your experience of working with multiple of these skills, you’ll be a valuable asset for any company. According to various studies, some skills that have been identified to put you ahead of your competitors are social media marketing, search engine marketing, email marketing, and ad campaigns. If you can get yourself to be fluent in one or multiple of these skills, you’ll find yourself in a more comfortable position, professionally. In other words, companies do offer a bigger compensation to versatile experts.  Location of Interest Although digital marketing by its very nature is a work-from-home type job, and you can serve clients across the globe sitting from anywhere in the world. That said, if you’re not going the freelance route and wish to work for an organization or an agency, you’d want to consider the location of your work to understand the salary being offered to you.  As an example, digital marketers in the USA are offered more compensation than their colleagues belonging to other companies. Further, you will also find salary differences within a country. Generally, companies established in crowded cities tend to offer higher compensation than companies working in smaller areas. As a result, a digital marketer working in SanFran will be paid more than one working in Denver.  Job Role and Position As you read through this article, you’ll realize how the salary figures increase as you climb up the digital marketing ladder. The higher up you are, the more critical responsibilities you take up, and the higher compensation you receive.  For instance, an expert digital marketer that works as a team leader will get paid more than someone who works as a solo contributor. Further, digital marketers having experience and qualifications that combine traditional marketing and digital marketing will be able to offer holistic perspectives on different problems – and will be able to participate in decision-making boards and enjoy higher salaries.  Professional Efficiency  In digital marketing, every initiative that you take is measurable. This is a considerable difference from traditional marketing, and it means that it’s easy to figure out whether or not a digital marketing campaign is performing well and generating good ROI.  Marketers who can prove their experience of providing ROI with their campaigns will be valued higher than people who have worked on lesser successful campaigns. As a result, you should be sure to keep a few success stories ready with you where you can explain everything about what you did from start to end.  With these points settled, let’s now dive deeper into the salary structures of Digital Marketers across different stages of their careers.  Digital Marketing Salaries in 2023 Now, let’s look at the different levels that you can progress through in your digital marketing career and what are the different salary structures you can expect at each level. Please note that these figures are not 100% accurate and have been compiled after researching from different job sites across the internet. There is bound to be some fluctuation, and these numbers are only to give a rough estimate. Ultimately, it’s your skills alone that can help you shoot to the moon! Junior Digital Marketer This is the first step in your digital marketing journey, and the salary range for a fresher junior digital marketer is around $67K per year. It only gets better from here! Image Source For this job post, you’re not required to have any specific degree as such, but if you have some certifications or qualifications in marketing or digital marketing, it’ll make you an ideal candidate.  As a junior digital marketer, you’ll be working on a few of the following tasks: PPC campaigns Content optimization for SEO Keyword research and content bucket creation Email marketing implementation Copywriting, blog writing, web content writing Social media marketing and management Ad copy preparation and ad campaign creation Working with external agencies or resources If you’re a beginner and don’t have any experience or certifications so far, we recommend you to check out our Advanced Certification in Digital Marketing and Communication, which will teach you all the basic and advanced concepts you need to get going in your digital marketing journey.  Specialist Digital Marketer Specialist Digital Marketers are professionals belonging to the 5-year to 15-year experience bracket. Since this is a large bracket, these professionals have generally worked in different roles under the digital marketing domain and have enough working knowledge to handle all the digital marketing initiatives in a comprehensive manner. The average salary of a digital marketing specialist comes to be around $50K per year. Image Source For some more context, here’s some year-wise breakdown of a specialist digital marketer:  With 1-4 years experience: $44K per year With 5 – 9 years experience: $54k per year With 10-15 years experience: $65k per year The role of a specialist digital marketer highly depends on the company or the client they’re working for. Generally, digital marketing specialists work under marketing managers. They train junior digital marketers by helping them execute campaigns and guiding wherever needed. To grow from a junior digital marketer to a specialist digital marketer, you should understand how different digital marketing strategies are executed, measured, and optimized for ROIs.  Here’s what a day-to-day job of a specialist digital marketer looks like:  Running ad campaigns on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and other PPC platforms.  Collaborate with and pass on information to different teams.  Design project status reports and communicates findings to stakeholders.  Design, implement and manage SEO campaigns.  Conduct meetings with the clients to understand their needs and offer suitable solutions.  Collaborate with and train (if needed) junior digital marketers.  Digital Marketing Manager  Digital Marketing Managers are, on average, paid greater than $67K per year. It can be considered one of the higher-paying jobs in the digital marketing umbrella. Digital Marketing Managers are experts having 15+ years of experience in the field of digital marketing (or marketing in general). They oversee all the digital marketing initiatives taking place in the organization. They are responsible for ensuring everything goes well and helping colleagues when they’re stuck. Becoming a Digital Marketing Manager requires you to have skills beyond just digital marketing. By the time you’ve reached here, you’ve gone through the digital marketing specialist phase – so your skills don’t need any more proving. Now comes the time to gather management skills, including analytical thinking, project management, budgeting, team management, and more!  Here’s how a regular day of a Digital Marketing Manager looks like: Supervising the execution of various digital marketing initiatives.  Designing and developing digital marketing strategies.  Assigning tasks to the team and managing their progress and output.  Meeting with stakeholders or clients.  Preparing comprehensive, data-backed progress reports on all the digital marketing tasks.  Identifying innovative promotion opportunities.  The salary of digital marketing managers is definitely higher when compared to most other job roles in the digital marketing industry. In some cases, the salary of digital marketing managers can easily exceed $100K per year. However, it is not the highest-paid job. The highest-paid jobs are the following two:  CMO (Chief Marketing Officer) – Average salary is $190K per year VP of Marketing – Average salary is $160K per year To reach either of these two positions, you’ll need a degree in marketing, some work experience as a marketing manager, and the ability to be a leader of young digital marketing experts. Becoming a digital marketing manager is a good starting point to eventually reach these two positions!  Freelance Digital Marketer This is for those of you who wish to work as your own boss. While freelancing as a digital marketer pays well if you have skills, it’s still recommended that you first gain some professional experience, form some contacts, and then switch to freelancing. That said, the salary earned by freelance digital marketers depends on their hourly rate and the number of hours they wish to work. Considering that, the typical rate per hour of freelance digital marketers varies between $50 to $150.  If you’ve decided to take the freelance route because it seems exciting, let’s tell you that it indeed is exciting. However, it’ll get a lot more fascinating and interesting if you have the necessary knowledge and certification by your side. Other Digital Marketing Professions It isn’t fair to talk about digital marketing salaries and miss out on the different specializations under this umbrella. The three salary layers – junior, specialist, and manager – that we mentioned earlier were broad divisions and don’t do full justice to the wide range of jobs available and salaries offered.  So, here’s a list of some other digital marketing professions and the salary they are offered (on an average) in the digital marketing industry:  SEO Expert – $64K per year Content Marketing Manager – $80K per year Social Media Specialist – $64k per year Ad Specialist – $60K per year Graphic Designing Expert – $55k per year Affiliate Marketer – $70K per year Enroll for the best Digital Marketing Certificate course online from the World’s top Universities to fast-track your career. In Conclusion Digital Marketing is a fascinating field with wonderful opportunities. Whether you’re interested in designing, writing, social media management, keyword research, or developing campaigns – digital marketing is a field that is open to welcoming you!  If you’re looking for professional help to guide you during your journey – upGrad is here for you. We’ve helped many students from different backgrounds climb the digital marketing ladder. Our Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication is designed to help you start from scratch and reach your full potential. Our learners’ network covers over 85 countries with 40,000+ paid learners globally. Reach out to us and avail the benefits of 360-degree learning and support!

Hypertext Mark-up Language or HTML is known, to all, as the “backbone of the world wide web”. Since the beginning of the command, it has been around governing what we see and how we see it on the internet. HTML is a foundation coding language used to create and structure web pages displayed on a browser. Websites are nothing but an aggregation of web pages, and most of these web pages are stored as HTML files.  As a mark-up language, HTML differs from other programming languages such as Python or Java. HTML is a declarative language, meaning an HTML code is a statement ‘declaring’ what goes on a webpage. Most other programming languages are computational. However, nothing on the internet can exist without HTML, and it plays a crucial role in user experience. HTML’s versatility and universal importance have ensured its continuing relevance even in 2023. It is hands down the most popular mark-up language in the digital world.  This is perhaps why most front-end developers begin their knowledge journey by learning how to code on HTML. And the language continues to enjoy a stronghold among most developers and programmers, especially those involved in UI-UX designing and software development.  This article aims to provide an overview of the career prospects in HTML and software development and the most common HTML and HTML5 interview questions in 2023. Read on to find out. Why Is HTML Important?  HTML contains constitutional information that helps a browser load a page- like text, links, images, paragraphs, etc. On top of that, several features of HTML, and the recent HTML5, explains its continual popularity. First, it is a highly adaptable and versatile language and enjoys a kind of monopoly in the world of mark-up languages. Second, it is platform-independent, which means that the language can run on any browser or operating system. Finally, one of the best features of HTML is that it can run dynamic scripts via Java or JS, thus allowing the creation of dynamic elements.  HTML developers are highly sought-after by most digital companies, big and small. Moreover, HTML skills find their utility in UI-UX design, app development, and many other sectors. Thus, we can say that HTML professionals provide the face of whatever we see on the internet. HTML Interview Questions in 2023 Below are some of the most common HTML interview questions and HTML5 interview questions in 2023, along with the best answers. 1. How can we insert an image in HTML? An image is added to a web page with the help of the <img> tag. In HTML, images are technically linked to a web page, and this tag creates a holding space for the linked image. The <img> tag only has attributes and does not have a closing tag. It is usually empty. There are two necessary parameters for the <img> tag – src – the path to the referenced image, and alt – an alternate text for said image. 2. What is CSS? How can it be linked to HTML? CSS, or Cascading Style Sheets, is used to format the overall layout of the HTML web page. If HTML is the skeleton of the web page, then CSS determines the appearance of the body – the skin, hair, eyes, etc. CSS helps the developer decide such aspects as the color, font, text spacing, position of elements, background images, device-based display, etc.  There are three ways to link a CSS file to HTML: Inline style, which puts the style attribute inside the HTML elements.  Internal style, which puts a <style> element in the <head> section. External style, which adds a <link> element to an external CSS file. This is also the most commonly used way to link CSS to HTML. 3. What do you understand by doctype in HTML5? Doctype refers to the HTML document type in use. It informs the browser of the type of HTML document that it is about to load. In HTML5, the <!DOCTYPE> syntax was simplified to <!DOCTYPE html> 4. How does HTML5 differ from HTML? HTML5 was built to smoothen the web experience of developers and end-users. Hence, HTML5 differs from its earlier versions in functionality. HTML5 supports SVG, canvas, and other vector graphics. Earlier, HTML did not directly support the use of vector graphics. The only way vector graphics could be linked is by using them in external formats like VML. Unlike HTML, HTML5 is no longer based on SGML. This has improved compatibility with better parsing rules. In HTML, Javascript could run only in the browser interface thread. But, HTML5 allows Javascript to run with a web browser.  HTML5 allows the use of SQL databases to temporarily store data, whereas, in the earlier versions, data could be stored only in the browser cache. 5. What is meant by attribute? Attributes are used to provide extra information about HTML elements. Every HTML element comes with attributes. Attributes always have a start tag. They are used in name-value pairs, represented as name= “value”. 6. What is the syntax to increase button size? Button size can be increased by using  <button type=“button”>Click Here!</button> 7. What is the process of connecting HTML to a database with MySQL?  First, we need to filter our HTML form fields for the contact us web page. Then, we have to create a database and table in MySQL, followed by an HTML form. Finally, we have to create the PHP page to add the contact us HTML form data to the MySQL database.  8. Explain the difference between HTML tags and elements. Tags are represented by angle brackets < and >. They mark the beginning and end of an HTML element. HTML elements are the text written between tags and denote the content of the web page. 9. How can we deal with the Out of HTML5 Storage Space error? This is the HTML5 offline storage mega error, and it can be cleared with a few simple steps. We go to Chrome settings and click on content settings. In the advanced settings pop-up, we need to choose the All Cookies and Data option. Here we need to clear the mega.nz cookie. 10. What is the drag and drop concept in HTML5? The drag and drop functionality is one of the key upgrades that HTML5 comes with. It allows the user to drag an item from one place and drop it to another. The most commonly used drag and drop features are moves, copy, and link. To use this feature on an image, one has to make the image draggable. This is done by setting the image attribute to true: type=<img draggable=“true”>. These are some of the most commonly asked HTML interview questions and HTML5 interview questions. If the next question popping in your mind is “how to determine a career path in HTML”, keep reading. A Career In HTML One of the many boons with a career in HTML is that the path is very defined. Education, expertise, and skills are the primary factors determining a person’s employability in this field. A bachelor’s degree in computer science or related fields is necessary for most companies while hiring HTML developers and programmers. Recruiters also look for a demonstration of the candidate’s skills in the form of past work experience, internships, or independent projects. Nowadays, the market is brimming with online programs that help aspirants upskill in HTML and related concepts. There are also programs that train people in the core concepts of computer science and HTML from scratch. HTML experts are hired in several job roles such as web developer, web designer, computer programmer, web architect, and webmaster, to name a few. So, it goes without saying that the opportunities in this field are endless. The Way Forward If you are a working professional looking to upskill in software development, then a great place to start is with upGrad’s Executive PG program in software development. Designed for working professionals, this program lets you comfortably learn at your own time and with a vibrant community of industry experts and peers. The course is offered in conjunction with IIIT-B, one of India’s leading technology institutions famed globally. Aspirants can choose one of 3 unique specializations in full-stack development, cloud computing, and cyber security.  upGrad aims to make adept professionals with industry-focused expertise and know-how. This is substantiated by upGrad’s flamboyant learner base of 40,000+ paid learners globally and 50,000+ impacted working professionals, spanning 85+ countries. In addition, every upGrad program boasts of world-class faculty and industry experts along with 360-degree career support. Conclusion A career in HTML is a respectable, well-paying profession that guarantees growth and stability and comes with the advantage of mobility to various sectors. So, if you are someone interested in pursuing this field, we recommend you get started now.

The term brand marketing has become very common these days, with the internet flooding with entrepreneurs and marketers. Brand marketing is not limited to flashy logos and funky taglines, as it is widely perceived. Instead, it also focuses on streamlining and enhancing the market presence of a product while simultaneously promoting it.  In today’s world, digital marketing has become the most sought-after model of brand marketing. This is because digital marketing gives a wider reach and maximum audience within a short span.  In this article, we will understand brand marketing in detail and explore the steps that companies can take to establish strong brand positioning and boost brand awareness. What is Brand Marketing? Marketing a brand is a comprehensive process that includes creating awareness, highlighting, and showcasing everything about a brand that makes it stand out from its competitors.  Here are the different types of branding: Personal branding Product branding Service branding Retail branding Corporate branding Online branding Offline branding Developing a marketing strategy includes taking into account the emotions and perceptions that people have about a brand. Taking care of their expectations and improving customer experience is also a part of brand marketing. In short, brand marketing is more difficult than owning a brand. There are a lot of products, services, and brands entering the market every day, with the majority of them failing miserably, primarily due to inefficient brand marketing.  It is essential for marketing to be efficient as a brand’s success and performance depend solely on its marketing.  With that in mind, let us now dive into how brand marketing can be done efficiently. Here are few tips to boost brand awareness and improve brand positioning. Cater to target niches It is wise to provide service to niche markets, thereby offering specialized services to focused audiences. Alternately, focus can be limited to a few products that best serve the customers’ requirements.  There are a lot of benefits to scaling down to specific niches. Below are a few of them: Time and energy can be spent on products or services that are well-received by the customers. Limit the wastage of resources like time, labor, and money. Expertise services can fetch more money than amateur ones. Specialized products outrank their competitors that provide generalized services or target people in general. Scaling down on niches helps marketers think out of the box instead of just trying to sell things that can be found anywhere in the market. This is one of the top marketing strategies that will boost brand value. Having a defined marketing goal The whole idea of developing a marketing strategy is to achieve a business goal. While creating a brand strategy, it is crucial not to lose focus on short-term and long-term goals. Make sure that the brand strategy is well-aligned with the business goals.  Asking questions like where to position the business next month, next year, or a few years away from now. Comparing the growth in sales every month and making sure to retain customers are all part of self-reflection that every business should do while working on brand promotion.  Tracking the location-wise brand performance will also give an idea of whether or not the target location is apt for the brand. A business goal should remain fixed while moving around different brand strategies to know which works the best. Performing brand research Brand marketing is an ocean, and no product can succeed with a strategy that is built inside a bubble. It is essential to step out and look at how the competitors are engaging with your target audience. Studying the audience’s response to certain business techniques will help identify what works and what doesn’t in marketing.  Complete research on the competitors’ brand marketing will provide creative encouragement and valuable insights into making your brand look unique as well as different from the crowd. Highlight what makes your brand unique Not everyone is selling unique products in the market. Don’t make the mistake of believing regular products won’t work. What will work is your brand messaging. It is a powerful tool that helps you make an everyday product look and sound different. Here are a few points to customize and improve brand awareness: Having a vision that has a personal touch. Highlighting how a product uniquely approaches a common issue. Similarly, highlighting how the product solves an uncommon but considerable issue will also improve that brand position in the market. Focusing on the unique characteristics of the target audience. Explain how your product can offer a new experience to the customers. Let’s take an example of a pizzeria. While it is true that there are a lot of pizzerias providing tasty pizzas to customers, a pizzeria offering an authentic Italian experience to customers will stand out from the crowd. It will also have a niche target audience that will become loyal customers of the pizzeria. Treat your business like a human being Every business owner or marketer has a unique personality, and so does every business. Not all personalities are worth remembering. So, it is essential to consider a business as a human being to better connect with the audience. This way, a business will be more appealing, memorable, and influential. It will also give an insight into the unique attributes that need to be highlighted in the brand strategy. Focus on providing the best customer experience Customer satisfaction is the key to any business success irrespective of how the brand is marketed. So, working towards offering the best customer experience should be an essential part of business strategy. There are a lot of businesses in the market offering similar kinds of products or services. Even if the competitors provide the same product at a lesser rate but cannot provide a good customer experience, the customers will be more than happy to pay a few more extra pennies to achieve the expected experience.  Happy customers become your best brand ambassadors and can create wonders for a business by sharing their pleasant experiences, encouraging reviews, and positive recommendations.  So, instead of just focusing on various strategies to promote a product, working towards providing an ideal experience will give the product a better reach.  Support your local community Embracing and supporting the local community will boost brand awareness. People have a special place in their hearts for local businesses. Hence, they tend to choose them over huge chains. Small companies are easier for people to associate with, making them more human.  Personal connection with people can provide two advantages: It is a faster and proven way to build customer relationships, establish a strong reputation, and turn loyal customers into brand advocates. Engaging better with customers helps in understanding their requirements. These valuable insights will help in developing more customized solutions, which in turn gives satisfied customers.  There are a lot of ways to connect with the local community that includes: Reaching out to small businesses Using social media pages to feature the best customers Initiating charity or blood donation drives Sponsoring local sports teams All the above strategies will ensure an effective brand positioning.  That should give you a clear idea of how you can effectively establish strong brand positioning in the market.  If you’d like to learn more about digital marketing and communication, we recommend you enroll in the Advanced Certification Program in Digital Marketing and Communication, offered by MICA and powered by upGrad.  The online program has a duration of 32- 50 weeks, the curriculum of which is carefully designed to offer good industrial exposure to further the career of the working professionals through industry projects. Successful completion of the program will provide a valuable certificate from Facebook and an esteemed MICA alumni status.  The program is backed by 360-degree career support from upGrad, a platform with an impressive learners base spanning over 85 countries. upGrad has impacted the career of 40,000 paid learners and over 5,00,000 working professionals.  In addition to all the above benefits, candidates are offered a fantastic opportunity to create a robust global network and pursue peer learning through upGrad’s programs. This is an opportunity you don’t want to miss! So reach out to us today!

Competition in the market is inevitable. In fact, healthy competition among various businesses is necessary for the growth of the economy. However, to grow and stay ahead, every firm needs to know how its competitors are progressing. Even before one sets up a business, it is pertinent to research the competition in the industry. In addition to this, organizations also need to understand and analyze the various management strategies adopted by their competitors. It is termed competitor analysis.  This blog provides a step-by-step guide to performing competitor analysis and tells you some effective competitive analysis strategies. What is Competitor Analysis? Competitor analysis forms a part of strategic management. It is both a defensive and offensive technique that allows businesses to figure out threats and opportunities in the market. In simple words, competitor analysis is a process, strategy, or technique that involves analyzing competitive elements in the market. It focuses on figuring out the competitors in the industry, analyzing their products and services, marketing and sales techniques, strengths and weaknesses, and leveraging the same to chalk out business strategies to earn profits.  Why is Competitor Analysis Important? Competitor analysis has become a pivotal activity for nearly all businesses due to cut-throat competition in the market. Here are some of the reasons why competitor analysis is crucial for your business: 1. Identifying Key Competitors Competitive analysis helps businesses figure out the existing and potential competitors in the market. One can also identify various factors that regulate competition in the industry with the help of competitive analysis. 2. Work on Your USP The primary purpose of competitor analysis is to stay ahead of your competitors and earn maximum profits. Since many firms deal in similar goods and services, a USP is crucial for your business. When you have a list of your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, you can use it to your advantage to build a USP for your brand. You need to figure out what is lacking in other brands that you can improve. 3. Learn from mistakes One of the significant advantages of competitor analysis is that you get to learn from the mistakes made by your competitors, especially if you are a newly established business or are building a product for an unconventional sector. A comprehensive study of your competitors’ strategies will help you understand the mistakes you need to avoid and how you can enhance the quality of products or services. 4. Assessing own strengths and weaknesses Competitor analysis involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the competitor. Businesses utilize market research to compare the strong and weak points of their competitors. It helps them understand the areas they need to work on and prepare strategies accordingly. 5. Establishing benchmarks As per an article on the Forbes website, competitor analysis is crucial for establishing various benchmarks. It means finding reference points through which you can measure your growth. Setting up benchmarks will be highly beneficial if you are starting a business and wish to research or learn from competitors or leading brands. When you set a target for your business and compare it with a reference point, it is likely to enhance the growth of your business. Steps to Perform Competitor Analysis. Before performing competitor analysis, it is crucial to be familiar with the essential factors that regulate competition. One of the most critical concepts of competitor analysis is Porter’s five forces. It discusses competitive rivalry as an essential element of competitor analysis. According to Harvard Business Review, the competition in the market is due to the presence of other similar businesses and the underlying economics. The following are the five forces that control competition in the market.  1. Supplier Power It suggests the potential of the suppliers to increase the price of labor, raw material, and other inputs that ultimately causes a rise in the cost of production for the businesses.  2. Buyer Power The bargaining power of the customer or the buyer power refers to the ability of the customers to increase or decrease the price of products through a change in demand.  3. Competitive Rivalry It gives you an understanding of the competition in the market. Competitive rivalry refers to the number of competitors in the market, where your product stands compared to that of your competitors, and how other businesses are trying to eliminate competition to gain a more significant share of the market profits. 4. The Threat of Substitution The fear of some other business or product replacing you in the market is constant. Therefore, your competitor analysis strategy must look at the similar products available in the market that work as substitutes and their pricing strategy. 5. New Entry in The Market Just like the substitution of products, there is also a threat of new entries in the industry that creates competition. An easy entry into the market can pose a threat of replacement by rival businesses. Therefore, to perform competitive analysis, it is quintessential to consider all the above factors. Along with this, you can follow the below-given steps for competitive analysis. 1. Finding out competitors and profiling them The first step to conducting competitive analysis is to figure out direct and indirect competitors of the firm. Your direct competitors indulge in providing similar products or services and cater to the same target audience. On the other hand, indirect competitors do business in the same niche but have a different customer base. The easiest way to identify your CV competition is to run a Google search with relevant keywords. You can also use various tools like SpyFy, Google Trends, and SEMrush to find your competitors. 2. Research Your Competitor’s Website and Social Media Pages Once you know who your competitors are, the next step is to determine their strengths and weaknesses and use them to your advantage. You can observe their marketing and sales strategies, social media campaigns, interaction with customers to get an idea about how their teams function. One of the best ways to do this is to read the customer reviews available on their website, social media pages, YouTube, or Google. 3. Determining opportunities and threats and in the market The next step is to determine opportunities and threats that impact market competition. You can consider Porter’s five forces to figure out the opportunities in the market. Various Strategies for Competitor Analysis Follow are the three most beneficial strategies for competitor analysis: 1. Industry Approach The industry-based competitive analysis considers firms that engage in similar products or services which act as substitutes for each other. It also focuses on factors like entry barriers and vertical integrations. However, the businesses that form a part of an industry usually price their products or services at similar rates. In such cases, gaining profits mostly depends on customer loyalty. The industry approach in competitor analysis helps firms identify areas where they can decrease the prices of their products or services by reducing the cost of production. 2. Market Approach The market-based analysis only considers direct competitors in the market. It does not take into account other competitive elements. The market-based research focuses on analyzing strategies and identifying the strengths and weaknesses of direct competitors. 3. SWOT Analysis SWOT is the abbreviation for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. SWOT analysis is a strategy that focuses on internal factors like strengths and weaknesses of the firm and external factors like opportunities and threats. How Can You Learn To Do Competitor Analysis? Competitor analysis or market analysis is one of the most sought-after jobs in the USA. According to the US News and World Report ranking, market research analyst was the 9th best business job in the US in 2019. Moreover, the average salary of a market research analyst in the US is $63,500 annually. However, the role of a market research analyst is not easy as it requires a lot of research and experience. The growth of businesses is often based on competitor analysis. Therefore, research analysts must have a great understanding of the business industry. They should also be aware of various business trends and strategies. One of the best ways to learn competitive analysis is to pursue an MBA program.  You can join the MBA (Global) course by Deakin Business School offered by upGrad. It will help you learn the basics of business strategy and the fundamentals of marketing. In addition to this, you will also get opportunities to work on practical assignments and receive 360-degree mentorship from industry professionals. Businesses constantly strive to improve their marketing and sales strategies to stay ahead of their competitors and maximize profits. Pursuing an MBA degree can be your best bet to learn about the market in-depth and perform competitor analysis successfully.

You must have heard businesses stressing over their Google rankings. Why does it matter? As per statistics, nearly 90% of the websites on Google do not have organic reach. Only a handful of websites ranking at the top generate maximum traffic. But, how do these websites eliminate competition to get to the top?  The answer is simple – SEO.  This blog explains the benefits of SEO for eCommerce businesses and several SEO strategies. What is SEO? SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is a digital marketing strategy that helps websites improve their position on SERP (search engine result page). It means optimizing the website by adding the most frequently searched keywords, making your website mobile-friendly, and generating backlinks to boost its ranking on Google SERPs. It’s a known fact that people only go through the first few results on Google. Therefore, the websites that are placed lower on the search results pages are completely overlooked. And this is precisely why brands need to implement SEO strategies to climb up the ranking ladder. Why is SEO beneficial for eCommerce businesses? SEO offers plenty of benefits to businesses. It helps websites rank higher on a Google search engine result which is further beneficial in getting more leads for your business, better conversion ratio, and building an online presence of your eCommerce business. some of the most significant benefits of SEO for an eCommerce business: 1. Improves Visibility of Business The majority of the people do not look beyond the first five search results. Therefore, if your website is consistently ranking low on search results, you will lose out on many potential customers. Whereas, higher ranking through SEO helps make people aware of your business. Therefore, the most crucial advantage of SEO is that it improves a brand’s visibility online. 2. Increases Traffic to the Website SEO is beneficial for generating organic traffic on your website. A large number of people will become aware of your website that will help increase your business revenue. 3. Generate Leads A higher ranking on search results will prompt people to visit your website. You can check how much time they spent on your website and which pages grabbed maximum attention. You can use this information for lead conversion. Step by Step Guide To Start SEO in eCommerce Before optimizing your website, first, you must understand the various elements of SEO. Following are the essential components of SEO:  1. Finding Keywords The most effective SEO strategy is finding high-volume keywords and using them in your blog posts and website content. However, you have to ensure that the keywords are not stuffed but added contextually. You can use various SEO tools like Google Trends, Keyword Generator, SEMrush, Ubersuggest, Serpstat, or Google Keyword Planner. 2. Off-page and On-Page SEO Along with website content and blogs, you must also optimize your website features by making it mobile-friendly, increasing the loading speed, and adding metadata. This is on-page SEO. Contrarily, off-page SEO focuses on creating backlinks, guest blogging, social media marketing, and influencer marketing. Both on-page and off-page SEO is crucial for your business. 3. Website SEO Audit Even if your website ranks on top in Google search results, it is crucial to perform a regular SEO audit to maintain a higher position. The audit helps confirm that your website content is optimized. You can start the audit by ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly, checking if there are enough internal links on the site, etc. Plus, you should track your website’s organic traffic and confirm the ranks of the keywords used in your site’s content. Google Analytics Tool is perfect for SEO audit. SEO Strategies The following are some of the most efficient SEO strategies for eCommerce businesses: 1. Focusing on Long-tail Keywords Your website cannot rank on top of a Google search result for all keywords. Therefore, you have to focus on high-volume keywords. Those are the most frequently searched terms on Google. However, there is a catch, the most popular keywords have high competition. It means that plenty of other websites must have also included the same keywords on their website. In such a case, your website might not be visible in the first few results on Google despite adding high-volume keywords due to high competition. You can overcome this challenge by adding long-tail keywords to your website. Those are the terms that are less frequently searched on Google and have less competition. Long-tail keywords should comprise more than three words. For instance, the term ‘dresses for women’ will have a serious keyword difficulty. Whereas the keyword’ black dresses for women’ is likely to give you better visibility when searched. Again, if you add the keyword ‘black knee-length dresses for women’, your website will show up on top on Google search results when somebody adds the same keywords. Long-tail keywords reduce competition by helping you target specific customers.  2. Mobile-Friendly Website In 2015, Google announced its mobile-friendly update. According to this update, mobile-friendly websites are likely to rank higher on mobile searches. It favors those websites that are easier to read without the readers needing to zoom in constantly. In addition, Google notified that if a website is not mobile-friendly, it can cause a significant decrease in website traffic. According to Statista, there were more than 211 million mobile search users in the US in 2020. Therefore, your website must be mobile-friendly since most people use mobile phones for search instead of laptops or PCs. You can check the mobile-friendliness of your website through the Mobile Usability report in Webmaster Tools.  Metadata Many brands stuff their website content with keywords but fail to include it in the metadata. If you want to improve your website’s ranking, adding a compelling meta title and meta description containing the primary keyword is vital. In addition, you can also optimize the title of images on your website by adding relevant keywords. Creating Backlinks From Guest Posts While it’s crucial to optimize your website, it is equally essential to promote your business on other websites through relevant backlinks that will drive traffic towards your website. Backlinks, also known as inbound or incoming links, are added on external websites to redirect the reader to another website. To get good results, you must add backlinks to pages that are related to your niche. According to recent statistics, the top-ranking websites on Google search results have almost four times more backlinks than the pages placed below. Moreover, 58% of SEO experts believe that backlinks are beneficial for a higher rank in Google search results. Add LSI Keywords Latent Semantic Indexing or the LSI keywords are those terms that are related to the content available on your website. LSI keywords help search engines understand what your website is all about and boost the website ranking.  For example, an eCommerce business that sells health and wellness products using the terms health, wellbeing, and wellbeing multiple times will help the search engine understand that the particular website is related to health and wellness. It boosts the visibility of your website. You can seek help from the various suggestions shown in the Google search bar to find related terms. Internal Links Another SEO strategy that you must use is creating an internal link between the various pages on your website. Contrary to backlinks, internal links direct the reader to another page on your website and increase the time spent by the user on your website. It generates website traffic and also enhances the position in Google search results. For example, if you add blogs to the website for SEO, you can add the links of similar blogs at the end of each page. So, if a person goes through one blog, they might also click on another blog on the site. How Can You Learn SEO? SEO is one of the most popular digital marketing tools for eCommerce businesses. Therefore, nearly all companies hire SEO experts to generate leads and expand their business. According to Indeed, the average salary of an SEO specialist in the US is $54,175 annually.  If you aspire to build a career in the SEO industry or want to learn SEO to grow your business, you can consider pursuing a Digital Marketing MBA program, such as upGrad’s MBA (Global) Program from Deakin Business School. This program will help you learn the fundamentals of marketing and management, leadership, sales and distribution management, business strategies, and other fundamental concepts. This course includes over 500 learning hours, 40 live sessions, and 20 lectures by industry experts to help learners acquire real-world marketing skills. Conclusion Top ranking on Google search results is crucial for the growth of eCommerce businesses as it increases brand visibility and generates leads. Therefore, a sound knowledge of SEO will be highly beneficial for your business.